Which immunizations should women in their 50s get?

The following are guidelines for preventive health screenings and immunizations generally recommended for healthy women in their 50s:

Hepatitis A: This vaccine is recommended for adults who live, work or travel in areas where hepatitis A is endemic and periodic outbreaks occur. It is also recommended for users of injection or street drugs, military personnel, institutionalized persons and those working in those institutions.

Hepatitis B: The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all adults at high risk for infection. High-risk individuals include injection drug users and their sexual partners, anyone with a history of multiple sexual partners in the previous six months or who has recently acquired a sexually transmitted disease, recipients of certain drug products, individuals with a health-related job with frequent exposure to blood or blood products and travelers to countries where hepatitis B virus (HBV) is of high concern.

Influenza: Have a yearly influenza vaccination.

Pneumococcal: You need one to two doses if you smoke or if you have certain chronic medical conditions.

Tetanus: You should have tetanus-diphtheria booster shots every 10 years.

This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Vaccines & Immunizations

Vaccines are commonly given to children in the form of a shot to help prevent serious diseases like measles and mumps. Vaccines are developed using either dead strains of a disease, weakened strains, or strains of a different disease. As adults, we receive flu vaccines or may need a booster of childhood vaccines to retain immunity. Travelers may receive vaccines either as a condition of entry to a country, or on recommendation of health officials. Generally there is little or no reaction to a vaccine, but in some cases the vaccine may cause an allergic reaction or a temporary, mild illness. Some vaccines are not safe for pregnant women, so its important to check with a healthcare professional.